Randall V. Johnston

Partner

National Security Reviews (CFIUS), Export Controls & Economic Sanctions

“Randall Johnston is a phenomenal lawyer and I’d recommend her again and again.” (Chambers and Partners, 2025)

Randall Johnston of Vinson and Elkins Washington

Overview

Randall Johnston leads Vinson & Elkins’ National Security Reviews (CFIUS) practice. She brings a decade of experience guiding clients through some of the most complex and high-profile transactions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

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Experience

  • Francisco Partners and TPG in $6.5 billion take-private of New Relic

  • COSCO Shipping in its $6.3 billion acquisition of Orient Overseas International Limited, including negotiation of a National Security Agreement with CFIUS

  • Plains Midstream on $3.75 billion sale of Canadian natural gas liquids business to Keyera

  • SD Biosensor and SJL Partners in $1.53 billion acquisition of Meridian Bioscience

  • Symphony Technology Group in $1.5 billion acquisition of Momentive Global, maker of SurveyMonkey

  • CDH in $1.4 billion acquisition of Sirtex

  • STG in $1.4 billion take-private of Avid Technology

  • Saba in $1.4 billion sale to Cornerstone

  • Teleperformance in $1 billion acquisition of Intelenet

  • Dynapower in $580 million sale to Sensata Technologies

  • CWT US, LLC in agreement to be acquired by Global Business Travel Group in $570 million transaction

  • Quotient Technology, Inc. in $430 million business combination with Neptune Retail Solutions

  • Vector Capital in $355 million sale of MarkLogic

  • Madison Industries in acquisition of CAE Healthcare for $226 million

  • Atlas Energy Solutions on $220 million acquisition of Moser Energy Systems

  • Hotel Shilla in connection with $121 million investment in 3Sixty Duty Free

  • Foxconn in Partnership and Investment in Lordstown Motors

  • Francisco Partners and Forcepoint in sale of its G2CI Business to TPG

  • Vector Capital in Acquisition of Riverbed Technology

  • Mitsubishi Corporation in investment and participation in ExxonMobil’s Low Carbon Hydrogen and Ammonia Project

  • Riverside Company in investment in U.S. Cabinet Depot

  • H.I.G. Capital in its acquisition of Segers Aero Corporation

  • STG Partners in acquisition of Wrike

  • Wynnchurch Capital in the sale of Midland Industries

  • Industrial Growth Partners in the sale of Des-Case

  • A public Israeli company before CFIUS in acquisition of critical technologies business, including negotiation of a National Security Agreement, during litigation between the parties

  • A private equity firm in the sale of its interests in a utility-scale and distributed generation renewables business

  • A Chinese-owned asset manager in multiple acquisitions before CFIUS, including negotiating four mitigation agreements

  • Multiple Chinese companies in non-notified outreaches by CFIUS in software companies

  • Guidance across dozens of transactions to a PRC government-owned investor

  • Guidance across dozens of transactions to a state-owned Middle Eastern investor

Credentials

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 2013
  • Swarthmore College, B.A., 2009

Admissions

  • Arkansas
  • District of Columbia
  • Missouri
  • New York

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Recognitions

  • Chambers Global, “Up and Coming” in International Trade: CFIUS Experts (USA), 2025 and 2026
  • Chambers USA, International Trade: CFIUS Experts (Nationwide), 2026; “Up and Coming” in International Trade: CFIUS Experts (Nationwide), 2024 and 2025
  • Legal 500 U.S., “Next Generation Partner” in International Trade: CFIUS, 2024–2026; “Rising Star” in International Trade, CFIUS, 2022 and 2023; Dispute Resolution: International Trade, 2021
  • American Lawyer’s Litigation Daily, April 2021 – Runner-Up Litigators of the Week
Insights

Client Alerts

President Declares National Emergency to Secure U.S. Bulk-Power System: New Restrictions on Foreign-Made Grid Equipment

Executive Order 14421 (August 26, 2026) Overview On August 26, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14421 (the “Order,” or …

September 1, 2026

September 1, 2026 • 6-minute read

Client Alerts

CFIUS Annual Report: More Declarations, Less Success, and Other Trends

On August 7, 2026, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) released its Annual Report to Congress …

August 24, 2026

August 24, 2026 • 4-minute read

Client Alerts

Proposed Rules Broaden Texas Real Estate Foreign Ownership Restrictions

Texas Senate Bill 17 (“SB 17”), which became effective September 1, 2025, broadly restricts individuals domiciled in, and entities headquartered …

May 26, 2026

May 26, 2026 • 5-minute read

New Texas Law Gets Supervisors Asking for Sexual Harassment Training Background Image

Articles

Litigating Tariff Refund Pass-On Class Actions: Lessons from Antitrust

Downstream purchasers—distributors, retailers, or end consumers—are now asking if they can claim a share of about $170 billion in potential …

March 25, 2026

March 25, 2026 • 1-minute read

Articles

Redefining Leadership Through Collaboration, Inclusion and Resilience

Randall Johnston reflects on her path to leading Vinson & Elkins’ National Security Reviews (CFIUS) practice, emphasizing a leadership approach …

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026 • 1-minute read

News & Achievements